1. Introduction by attendees.

2. Opening statements by Ron Williams.
A. Review of minutes from June 18, 1996 TAG meeting.
B. Main purpose of this meeting is to discuss AMRs and Version 4.6 release.
C. Attendee review, sign up sheet.
D. Activity status review, focus on non-AVSS LRDs, and progress on bringing them online.
E. CDC reallocations were implemented for Calendar 1996.
F. Alan Oppenheim reviewed NANA status (about 80% to 85% complete).
G. Request attendees to review and submit updates to the AVSS contact list as necessary.
H. Explain AVSS AMR factors: stress consistency and standardization.
I. Review AVSS data flow sheet.

3. AMR review and discussion. Highlights as follow:
95152 C37, C01 support this, 12 counties doing MediCal managed care.
Rod Palmieri raised the issue of confidentiality and legal restrictions on follow up.
Who will maintain the plan list?
Is plan monitoring really considered public health?
Margaret De Lano asked if low prenatal care reflects patient or plan?
DHS needs to design a long term coding strategy.
Deborah Martin, Margaret De Lano to lead and investigate.
96063 Rod Palmieri: OVR to publish annual CBC specs, proposed updates due 6/1 each year.
Issue: Library of Congress country codes and their consistency with state specifications.
96083 Alan Oppenheim presented information on new marital status law so that inferred marital status is no longer essential.
The new reporting method will create biases in the current inferential method.
Rod Palmieri: The MAR variable should not be associated with individual records at the local level.
96105 Alice Maynez asked how one proves marital status?
96117 Rod Palmieri: You can't, all you can do is accept the information at face value.
96138 Margaret De Lano: Raised issue of counties being at risk legally.
Rod Palmieri stressed the fact that AB2680 and AB1832 affect marital status and paternity separately.
Note that only the father's name fields are dashed out when non-married/no paternity. Other father data and signature OK.
Ron Williams: Who does the hospital call for help? Answer: County, then DSS.
State DSS/POP coordinator is Jim Mullany.
Rod Palmieri: POP can be rescinded in 60 days.
Margaret De Lano: LRD photocopies some picture ID for protection.
96096 Very specialized, no edit oversight, not recommended.
96100 Linda Hickham and Deborah Martin to survey, CDC:118 should use separate DOC list.
96107 Table until committee meeting with Peter Abbott.
96119 Allow Hispanic, but remove from list. Rod Palmieri: "We should not be rejecting these certificates."
96140 Recommend no change.
96120 Just closes a loophole.
96122 OK.
96127, 96129 OK, Peter Chen explained the technicalities.
96130 Updates disallowed, need amendment code. Margaret De Lano to work with OVR to find a solution.
96131 Rod Palmieri: Requires a statute change.
96132 PHN request and a good idea, but Rod P: Cannot use confidential info for contacting unless human subjects research approved.
96133 OK, but there are reasons to edit LCAs, e.g. correct LFN, enter date of death, possibly others?
96134 OK.

4. Lunch Break

5. Version 4.6
A. Discuss new release, alpha testing, update procedures, release notes.
B. Discuss laser printer requirement, automated backups.
C. Using Missing LFN Report weekly for tracking, send year end report to Alan Oppenheim.
D. New CMR form, pilot project in C12, C19, C31, C37, C41, C57.
Goal: more user friendly, faxable form. Spring 97 beta release?
John Williamson taking lead for task force to interface with Natl Elec Lab Reporting Standards.
Q: How do we reconcile individual cases with AVSS? Need duplicate checking.
Need cooperation of AVSS, county, CMR, lab directors.
Problem: How do we deal with CMR deletions?
Census tracts: Defer until next time, workshop planned for next year, JAM to work with DM-Info.
Peaches Grant: What about imaging?
Rod Palmieri feels that imaging technology is changing too fast, there are no standards, and conversion is expensive.

6. Passports and Certified Birth Abstracts
A. Problem: amended place of birth found in C19, C37.
Rod Palmieri: Abstract certification in LRD by OVR requires following the specified rules and protocols.
San Diego problem arose from recorder conversion to new system and foreign adoptions.
B. In May 1996, over 5000 fraudulent certificates discovered.
Currently, until OVR certifies an LRD clean, Passport Office won't accept abstracts.
Full BC copy required, LRDs should exchange an abstract with no fee.
C. Abstract problems: stolen paper, insufficient temperature to set toner, paper coatings.
Rod Palmieri: OVR to specify new bank note specs, possibly add embossed seal.
AVSS could implement rules to restrict printing certificates with high risk of fraud.
Rod Palmieri to investigate national standards for abstract printing.

7. Electronic Death Records Registration System
A. Don Cavallo reported on system evaluation, funding, requirements, etc.
B. Alan Oppenheim stated that connectivity is a goal to reduce travel time of involved parties.
C. CDC import into AVSS: OVR will soon be releasing electronic specifications. Note: May be a problem with country codes.
D. Don Cavallo: AB2755 allows for the possibility of electronic signatures.

8. Infant Birth Death Matching
A. Ron Williams: All LRDs should enter infant deaths at a minimum. Deborah Martin has CDC entry instructions.
Full LRD cooperation is required for this program to really be successful.
B. AVSS reports from birth-death matching were reviewed.

9. Immunization Registry
A. LRD's are using consent form to address confidentiality and contacting patients by means for birth certificate data.
B. IZ presentation to be done next meeting.
C. Don't include records with a linked date of death.

10. Amendments
A. No amendments can be done after the paper certificate is mailed to OVR.
B. Births for records amended before being mailed cannot be issued a SSA card.
C. Michelle Yepez stated that most problems were traced to foreign import records.
D. For wrong name problems, the parents can fix them at the SSA office.

11. System Manager Procedure Manual
A. Was distributed to attendees.

12. AVSS Technical Assistance
A. Review status.

13. Security
A. Deborah Martin wants to be notified of new users entered into Alameda County's AVSS computer.
B. Identify AVSS Project users in ID file.

Updated May 27, 1997 by RL Williams
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